Loose article dispensing package and blanks assembly for making a loose article dispensing package

ABSTRACT

A loose article dispensing package including a container having a bottom wall and a top wall; an outer casing slidingly coupled to the container along a sliding direction between a raised position and a lowered position, the outer casing including a main portion and an auxiliary portion, wherein, in the raised position of the outer casing, the bottom wall of the container is substantially aligned with a free end of the auxiliary portion; a dispensing opening of the container; wherein the outer casing includes a predetermined separation line arranged between the auxiliary portion and the main portion, and wherein the auxiliary portion of the outer casing is configured to be separated from the main portion of the outer casing along said predetermined separation line.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a loose article dispensing package andto a blanks assembly for making a loose article dispensing package,preferably loose articles of the food or confectionery sector such as,for example, candies, sugared almonds, chewing gums in the form oftablets, chocolates and the like.

BACKGROUND

The loose article dispensing package of the present invention is of thetype enabling both the storage and the containment of loose articles(i.e. bulk articles), and the dispensing of such articles on demand by auser. In such a dispensing package it is not possible, withoutcompromising the integrity of the package itself, to access the loosearticles directly, but they are made available by being ejected from thepackage through a dispensing opening actuated by a user. In particular,the dispensing opening is actuated by the user between a closingcondition in which the loose articles are prevented from exiting thedispensing opening and an opening condition in which the loose articlesexit the dispensing opening.

This type of dispensing packages is particularly appreciated due to thefact that it prevents or in any case strongly limits any contaminationof the loose articles when contained in the package, as the loosearticles are not directly reachable and therefore cannot come intocontact with external agents or the user's hands before being consumed.In addition, this type of packages prevents any possibility ofreintroducing an already dispensed article into the package.

This type of dispensing packages can be made of plastic or metalmaterial using appropriate moulds, or it can be made starting fromassemblies of flat blanks, which are folded and glued to define athree-dimensional structure.

The use of assemblies of flat blanks to make these types of dispensingpackages makes it possible to use completely or almost completelyrecyclable materials and is therefore often preferred in place of moulds(which are also expensive in some cases) in the production of thepackages.

A dispensing package obtained starting from an assembly of flat blanksis described in document WO2019116194A1. The dispensing packagedescribed in this document comprises a container for loose articles anda casing arranged outside the container and slidingly coupled to thecontainer. An occlusion element acts on an outlet opening for the loosearticles to open and close the outlet opening. The latter is placed atone end of a conveyor channel of the container and at the opposite endof this conveyor channel there is provided a dosing element which can beswitched between a closing condition of the conveyor channel and anopening condition of the conveyor channel. The reciprocal slidingbetween the outer casing and the container alternately actuates theocclusion element and the dosing element in such a way that the openingof the one corresponds to the closing of the other. The conveyor channelis sized to contain a predetermined number of loose articles at a time,so that when the dosing element is opened, a predetermined number ofloose articles are loaded into the conveyor channel and when theocclusion element is opened, only the predetermined number of loosearticles contained in the conveyor channel is dispensed.

SUMMARY

The Applicant has noted that such a dispensing package allows for a verysmooth dispensing and is easily implemented by a user simply by movingthe outer casing and container reciprocally.

The Applicant has also noted that such a dispensing package allows forthe dispensing of a predetermined number of loose articles. Therefore, aconstant and predetermined dispensing of loose articles can beguaranteed.

However, the Applicant has perceived that the production of theabove-mentioned dispensing package may not be easily implemented onautomated manufacturing lines.

In particular, the Applicant has perceived that it might be difficult towrap the dispensing package in an automatic cellophaning station, e.g.with a film that protects the integrity of the package and its contentsbefore first use.

The Applicant has in fact noticed that the dispensing package, when inthe condition with closed occlusion element, presents a shapesubstantially referable to two rectangular parallelepipeds superimposedwith the upper rectangular parallelepiped having a base greater than thelower rectangular parallelepiped. This shape produces eight surfaces forthe dispensing package which, in the Applicant's experience, may presentdifficulties for automated wrapping with a film.

The Applicant has further perceived that it would be advantageous to beable to equip the dispensing package described in WO2019116194A1 with anelement for checking the integrity of the dispensing package that isonly removable following its first use, in order to highlight anytampering or misuse of the dispensing package before its first actualuse.

The present invention therefore relates, in a first aspect thereof, to aloose article dispensing package comprising a container for containing aplurality of loose articles, comprising a bottom wall and a top wall.

Preferably, the dispensing package comprises an outer casing arrangedoutside the container and slidingly coupled to the container along asliding direction between a raised position and a lowered position.

Preferably, the outer casing comprises a main portion and an auxiliaryportion, wherein, in the raised position of the casing, the bottom wallof the container is substantially aligned with a free end of theauxiliary portion.

Preferably, the container comprises a dispensing opening adjacent to thebottom wall in the direction transverse to the sliding direction.

Preferably, the dispensing opening is spaced from the bottom wall of thecontainer along the sliding direction when the outer casing is in theraised position.

Preferably, the container comprises a shutter that is active on thedispensing opening and movable between a closing configuration, in whichit closes the dispensing opening, and an opening configuration, in whichit opens the dispensing opening.

Preferably, the shutter is connected to the container and to the outercasing so that in the raised position of the outer casing the shutter isin the closing configuration.

Preferably, the outer casing comprises a predetermined separation linearranged between the auxiliary portion and the main portion.

Preferably, the auxiliary portion of the outer casing is configured tobe separated from the main portion of the outer casing along saidpredetermined separation line.

The dispensing of loose products from the container is thereforeactuated by sliding the outer casing with respect to the container. Inparticular, in the raised position of the outer casing the shutter is inthe closing condition and the loose articles cannot exit the dispensingopening.

The Applicant has perceived that this configuration is suitable for theinsertion of loose articles into the container during the operationsperformed in an automated manufacturing line. In this regard, theApplicant has verified that by providing for the open top wall of thecontainer, the loose products can be inserted and the top wall can besubsequently closed.

The Applicant has found that by arranging the auxiliary portion of theouter casing in such a way that it reaches, in the sliding direction,the bottom wall of the container when the outer casing is in the raisedposition (a configuration in which the dispensing opening is spaced fromthe bottom wall of the container), the step formed between the bottomwall of the container and the dispensing opening is covered orsurmounted by the auxiliary portion of the casing.

The Applicant has verified that this makes it possible to obtain anouter surface of the dispensing package (given in substance by thecasing) with a regular shape, for example in the form of a rectangularparallelepiped, which can be easily wrapped with a removable film in anautomatic cellophaning station.

The Applicant has also verified that when the dispensing package is usedfor the first time, the outer casing must be moved with respect to thecontainer from the raised position to the lowered position in order toopen the dispensing opening. This operation can be carried out bypushing the bottom wall of the container into the outer casing along thesliding direction.

The Applicant has verified that the auxiliary portion of the outercasing in the raised position of the outer casing would tend to hinderthis operation since, by reaching the bottom wall of the container, itwould not permit acting on the bottom wall easily for pushing itslidingly inside the casing as far as bringing the outer casing into thelowered position. During such sliding, in fact, the auxiliary portion ofthe outer casing would extend beyond the bottom wall of the container.

The Applicant has found that by providing for the auxiliary portion ofthe outer casing to be removable with respect to the main portion alongthe predefined separation line, the auxiliary portion can be removedprior to the first use of the dispensing package allowing for proper andeasy handling of the container with respect to the outer casing when thecontainer must be pushed into the outer casing to actuate the firstdispensing.

The Applicant has also found that the auxiliary portion of the outercasing can also serve as an element for checking the integrity of thedispensing package, as its presence on the outer casing indicates thatthe dispensing package has never been used.

In a second aspect thereof, the present invention relates to a blanksassembly for making a loose article dispensing package, preferably formaking a loose article dispensing package in accordance with the firstaspect of the present invention.

This assembly of blanks comprises a first flat blank and a second flatblank.

Preferably, the first flat blank comprises a main portion configured todefine a container.

Preferably, the first flat blanks comprise first appendages arranged ata first longitudinal end of the main portion and configured to define atop wall of the container.

Preferably, the first flat blank comprises second appendages arranged ata second longitudinal end of the main portion configured to define abottom wall of the container.

Preferably, the first flat blank comprises a pair of third appendagesarranged in a recess of the main portion, facing each other andlongitudinally interposed between the first appendages and the secondappendages; said pair of third appendages being configured to define ashutter for a dispensing opening of the container.

Preferably, the second flat blank is configured to define an outercasing which can be slidingly inserted onto said container. Preferably,the second flat blank comprises a main portion and an auxiliary portiondistinguishable from one another by a separation line.

In this description and in the subsequent claims, the term“longitudinal” or “longitudinal direction” refers to a directionparallel to the prevailing direction of development of the dispensingpackage. This direction is directed between an upper end of thedispensing package and a lower end of the dispensing package and ispreferably perpendicular to an upper wall of the dispensing package. Alongitudinal direction coincides with a sliding direction between theouter casing and the container.

In the present description and in the subsequent claims, the term“transverse” or “transverse direction” refers to a directionperpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

The present invention may have, in both aspects discussed above, atleast one of the preferred features described below. These features cantherefore be present individually or in combination with each other,unless expressly stated otherwise, either in the package of the firstaspect of the present invention or in the assembly of blanks of thesecond aspect of the present invention.

Preferably, the outer casing is a tubular body.

Preferably, when said outer casing is in the raised position, saiddispensing opening is arranged at a first distance from the bottom wallalong the sliding direction.

Preferably, said auxiliary portion has an extension in the slidingdirection equal to or less than said first distance.

Preferably, when the outer casing is in the lowered position, theshutter is in the opening condition.

Preferably, said outer casing comprises a cutting or weakening line atsaid predetermined separation line.

Preferably, said cutting or weakening line is configured to create afracture line along said predetermined separation line when a separationforce is applied between the auxiliary portion of the outer casing andthe main portion of the outer casing.

Preferably, the auxiliary portion is removable from the main portion ofthe outer casing.

Preferably, when the auxiliary portion is removed from the main portion,the main portion comprises a free edge facing the bottom wall of thecontainer.

Preferably, when the auxiliary portion is removed from the main portion,and when the outer casing is in the lowered position, the free edge ofthe main portion is longitudinally aligned with the bottom wall of thecontainer.

Preferably, the main portion of the outer casing comprises four walls.

Preferably, said four walls surround four side walls of the container.

Preferably, the auxiliary portion of the outer casing comprises at leastthree walls that are coplanar to the respective three walls of the mainportion.

Preferably, said at least three walls of the auxiliary portion arearranged at the dispensing opening of the container.

Preferably, the auxiliary portion of the outer casing comprises fourwalls that are coplanar to respective four walls of the main portion.

Preferably, said auxiliary portion comprises a tear-off appendage notconnected to the main portion and configured to be grasped by a user.

Preferably, the tear-off appendage is made as one piece with theauxiliary portion.

Preferably, the tear-off appendage is coplanar with a wall of the mainportion of the outer casing.

Preferably, the tear-off appendage can be raised with respect to saidwall of the main portion of the outer casing.

Preferably, said tear-off appendage develops along the sliding directionbetween the predetermined separation line and a free end of theauxiliary portion.

Preferably, when the outer casing is in the raised position, thepredetermined separation line is longitudinally aligned with thedispensing opening.

Preferably, when the outer casing is in the lowered position, thepredetermined separation line is longitudinally aligned with the bottomwall of the container.

Preferably, the outer casing is made of a single material.

Preferably, the container is made of a single material.

Preferably, the material from which the outer casing is made is the sameas the material from which the container is made.

Preferably, such material is a material based on plant fibres, such aspaper or cardboard.

Preferably, the second blank comprises a longitudinal end for the mainportion and a free end for the auxiliary portion.

Preferably, the longitudinal end and the free end are parallel to eachother.

Preferably, the longitudinal end defines an upper edge of the outercasing.

Preferably, the free end defines a lower edge of the outer casing.

Preferably, said separation line is parallel to the longitudinal end ofthe main portion.

Preferably, said auxiliary portion of said second flat blank comprisesan appendage configured to define a tear-off appendage.

Preferably, said separation line is defined by a sequence of incisionsin said second flat blank.

Preferably, said sequence of incisions visually distinguishes the mainportion from the auxiliary portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention willbecome clearer from the following detailed description of a preferredembodiment thereof, with reference to the appended drawings and providedby way of indicative and non-limiting example, in which:

FIGS. 1A and 1B are schematic representations of a loose articledispensing package according to the present invention in a firstoperating configuration;

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of the package of FIG. 1A in asecond operating configuration;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a loose article dispensing package inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 represents the dispensing package of FIG. 3 with the auxiliaryportion of the outer casing removed;

FIG. 5 represents a first flat blank of a blanks assembly for making adispensing package in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 6 represents a second flat blank of a blanks assembly for making adispensing package in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the appended figures, a loose article dispensing package according tothe present invention is generically indicated by the numericalreference 1.

The package 1 comprises a container 2 configured to contain a pluralityof loose articles A and an outer casing 20 slidingly fitted on thecontainer 2.

The container 10 comprises a bottom wall 3 and a top wall 4. The bottomwall 3 has a smaller extension in the transverse direction than theextension in the same transverse direction of the top wall 4, asschematically illustrated in FIG. 1A.

Adjacent to the bottom wall 3 along a transverse direction, thecontainer 2 comprises a dispensing opening 5 configured to dispense theloose products A contained in the container 2. The dispensing opening 5has an extension in the transverse direction given by the differencebetween the extension, in the same transverse direction, of the top wall4 and of the bottom wall 3.

The container 2 further comprises a first side wall 6, a second sidewall 7 opposite the first side wall 6, a front wall 8 substantiallyperpendicular to the first side wall 6 and to the second side wall 7,and a rear wall 9 opposite the front wall 8 (in FIGS. 1A and 1 n FIG. 2the container has been shown with the front wall 8 removed and in FIG.1B the container has been shown with the first side wall 6 removed toillustrate the inside of the container 2).

The first side wall 6 is connected to front wall 8 and to the rear wall9 and the second side wall 7 is connected to the front wall 8 and to therear wall 9.

A prismatic body 10 is provided inside container 2. The prismatic body10 comprises a first wall 11, a second wall 12 and a third wall 13 whichare substantially parallel to the front wall 8 and to the rear wall 9 ofthe container 2.

The second wall 12 of the prismatic body 10 is in contact with the frontwall 8 of the container 2 and the third wall 13 of the prismatic body 10is in contact with the rear wall 9 of the container 2.

The first wall 11 of the prismatic body 10 is arranged between thesecond wall 12 and the third wall 13 and is parallel to and transverselyspaced from the first side wall 6 of the container 2.

A loose article conveyor channel 14 is defined between the first wall 11of the prismatic body 10 and the first side wall 6 of the container 2.Such a conveyor channel 14 is preferably transversely sized so as to beable to be traversed by one loose product A at a time, as shown in FIG.1A.

The prismatic body 10 also comprises a fourth wall 15 connected to thefirst wall 11, to the second wall 12 and to the third wall 13 to definea lead-in chute for the loose articles in order to enter the conveyorchannel 14.

The prismatic body 10 is closed, on the longitudinal side opposite thefourth wall 15, by the bottom wall 3 of the container 2.

The outer casing 20 is slidingly inserted on the container 2 in order tobe able to translate in a longitudinal direction with respect to thecontainer 2.

The outer casing 20 comprises a main portion 21 and an auxiliary portion22, as shown in FIG. 3 .

The main portion 21 comprises a first side wall 23, a second side wall24 opposite the first side wall 23, a front wall 25 which issubstantially perpendicular to the first side wall 23 and to the secondside wall 24, and a rear wall 26 opposite the front wall 25.

The package 1 comprises a shutter 40 that is active on the dispensingopening 5 and movable between a closing configuration (illustrated inFIGS. 1A and 1B) in which it closes the dispensing opening 5, and anopening configuration (illustrated in FIG. 2 ) in which it opens thedispensing opening 5.

The shutter 40 comprises a first flap 41 and a second flap 42 which areswitchable between a first position in which they project into theconveyor channel 14 and close the dispensing opening 5 and a secondposition in which they are substantially aligned in a longitudinaldirection and leave the dispensing opening 5 open.

The first flap 41 of the shutter 40 is connected at a first end to thecontainer 2 and, at a second end opposite to the first end, is connectedto the main portion of the outer casing 20.

The second flap 42 of the shutter 40 is connected at a first end to thecontainer 2 and, at a second end opposite to the first end, is connectedto the main portion of the outer casing 20.

When the outer casing 20 is in a raised position (shown in FIGS. 1A and1B), the first flap 41 and the second flap 42 are arranged in the firstposition. In this configuration, a longitudinal end 27 of the mainportion 21 of the outer casing 20 is aligned longitudinally with the topwall 4 of the container 2.

In particular, the longitudinal end 27 defines an upper edge 27 a forthe outer casing 20.

When the outer casing 20 is in a lowered position (shown in FIG. 2 ),the first flap 41 and the second flap 42 are arranged in the secondposition. In this configuration, the longitudinal end 27 of the mainportion of the outer casing 20 is moved away in the direction of thebottom wall 3 to the top wall 4 of the container 2.

The package 1 also comprises a dosing device 50 that is active at theinlet of the conveyor channel 14 and movable between a closingconfiguration (illustrated in FIG. 2 ) in which it closes the inlet ofthe conveyor channel 14, and an opening configuration (illustrated inFIGS. 1A and 1B) in which it opens the inlet of the conveyor channel 14.

The dosing device 50 comprises a first flap 51 which can be switchedbetween a first position in which it projects into the conveyor channel14 and closes the inlet of the conveyor channel 14 and a second positionin which it is substantially aligned with a longitudinal direction andleaves the inlet of the conveyor channel 14 open.

The flap 51 of the dosing device 50 is connected at a first end to thecontainer 2 and, at a second end opposite to the first end, is connectedto the main portion of the outer casing 20.

When the outer casing 20 is in a raised position (shown in FIGS. 1A and1B), the flap 51 is in the second position. In this configuration, thelongitudinal end 27 of the main portion 21 of the outer casing 20 isaligned longitudinally with the top wall 4 of the container 2.

When the outer casing 20 is in a lowered position (shown in FIG. 2 ),the flap 51 is in the second position. In this configuration, thelongitudinal end 27 of the main portion of the outer casing 20 is movedaway in the longitudinal direction from the top wall 4 of the container2.

The auxiliary portion 22 of the outer casing 20 comprises a first sidewall 28, a second side wall 29 opposite the first side wall 28, a frontwall 30 which is substantially perpendicular to the first side wall 28and to the second side wall 29, and a rear wall 31 opposite the frontwall as illustrated in FIG. 3 .

The first side wall 28 of the auxiliary portion 22 is coplanar with thefirst side wall 23 of the main portion 21, the second side wall 29 ofthe auxiliary portion 22 is coplanar with the second side wall 24 of themain portion 21, the front wall 30 of the auxiliary portion 22 iscoplanar with the front wall 25 of the main portion 21, and the rearwall 31 of the auxiliary portion 22 is coplanar with the rear wall 26 ofthe main portion 21.

Between the main portion 21 and the auxiliary portion 22 there isarranged a separation line 32 parallel to the longitudinal end 27 of themain portion and parallel to a free end 33 of the auxiliary portion 22.The separation line 32 is also indicated in FIGS. 1A and 1B (forconvenience of representation) although not visible in theserepresentations of the dispensing package.

The free end 33 of the auxiliary portion 22 defines a lower edge 33 a ofthe outer casing 20 when the main portion 21 and the auxiliary portion22 are joined.

The separation line 32 is, in the preferred embodiment of the invention,a weakening line, for example made by incisions.

The auxiliary portion 22 further comprises a tear-off appendage 34superimposed on one of the walls of the auxiliary portion 22, preferablysuperimposed on the first side wall 28.

The size in the longitudinal direction of the auxiliary portion 22 isequal to the difference between the size, in the longitudinal direction,of the container 2 and the size of the main portion 21. The size ofcontainer 2 is measured between the top wall 4 and the bottom wall 4.

The size in the longitudinal direction of the auxiliary portion 22 isfurther equal to the sliding distance that the outer casing 20 travelsbetween the raised position and the lowered position along a slidingdirection.

The tear-off appendage 34 has the same size in the longitudinaldirection as the auxiliary portion 22.

As schematically illustrated in FIG. 1 , when the outer casing 20 is inthe raised position, the free end 33 of the auxiliary portion 22 islongitudinally aligned with the bottom wall 3 of the container 2.

In this configuration, the package 1 has an external shape of arectangular parallelepiped having a first face given by the front wall25 of the main portion 21 and by the front wall 30 of the auxiliaryportion 22 of the outer casing 20, a second face given by the rear wall26 of the main portion 21 and by the rear wall 31 of the auxiliaryportion 22 of the outer casing 20, a third face given by the first sidewall 23 of the main portion 21 and by the first side wall 28 of theauxiliary portion 22 of the outer casing 20, a fourth face given by thesecond side wall 24 of the main portion 21 and by the second side wall29 of the auxiliary portion 22 of the outer casing 20, and a fifth facegiven by the top wall 4 of the container 2.

The sixth face of said rectangular parallelepiped is partially realisedby the bottom wall 3 of the container 2 and is perimetrically delimitedby the free end 33 of the auxiliary portion 22 of the outer casing 20.

The auxiliary portion 22 of the outer casing 20 is configured to beremoved prior to a first use of the package 1.

For this purpose, the tear-off appendage 34 can be raised with respectto the first side wall 28 of the auxiliary portion 22 in order to begrasped by a user and pulled. This action causes the outer casing 20 tobreak or tear along the separation line 32 and thereby detach theauxiliary portion 22 with respect to the main portion 21 of the outercasing 20.

When the auxiliary portion 22 has been removed from the main portion 21,the main portion 21 of the casing is the only portion that defines theouter casing 20 itself.

The end portion 27 of the main portion 21 is, in this case,longitudinally opposed to a free edge 35 of the main portion 21.

The configuration in which the auxiliary portion 22 has been removedfrom the main portion 21 is illustrated in FIG. 4 and FIG. 2 .

In particular, FIG. 4 shows a condition in which the auxiliary portion22 has been removed from the main portion 21 and in which the outercasing 20 is in the raised position. In this condition, the free edge 35of the main portion 21 does not reach the bottom wall 3 of the container2 but is longitudinally spaced therefrom.

As illustrated in FIG. 2 , in the condition in which the auxiliaryportion 22 has been removed from the main portion 21 and in which theouter casing 20 is in the lowered position, the free edge 35 of the mainportion 21 is longitudinally aligned with the bottom wall 3 of thecontainer 2.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show respectively a first flat blank 100 and a second flatblank 200 of a blanks assembly configured to make the dispensing package1.

The first blank 100 is configured to make the container 2.

The first blank 100 comprises a main portion 101 and an auxiliaryportion 102 that is connected to the main portion 101.

The main portion 101 comprises a first panel 109 configured to definethe rear wall 9 of the container 2, a second panel 108 configured todefine the front wall 8 of the container 2 and a third panel 107arranged between the first panel 109 and the second panel 108 to definethe second side wall 7 of the container 2.

A fourth panel 106 a is arranged on the side of the first panel 109, onthe opposite side with respect to the second panel 108, and a fifthpanel 106 b is arranged on the side of the second panel 108, on theopposite side with respect to the first panel 109. The fourth panel 106a and the fifth panel 106 b cooperate to define the first side wall 6 ofthe container 2.

In a first longitudinal end 101 a of the main portion 101 of the firstblank 100 and above the first panel 109, the second panel 108, the thirdpanel 107 and the fifth panel 106 b there are arranged respective firstappendages 104 a, 104 b, 104 c, 104 d configured to define the top wall4 of the container 2.

In a second longitudinal end 101 b of the main portion 101 of the firstblank 100 and below the first panel 109, the second panel 108 and thethird panel 107 there are arranged respective second appendages 103 a,103 b, 103 c configured to define the bottom wall 3 of the container 2.

As shown in FIG. 5 , a recess 101 c of the main portion 101 of the firstblank 100 is defined below the third panel 107 and between the firstpanel 109 and the second panel 109.

A pair of third appendages 140, 141 defining the shutter 40 are providedat the recess 101 c.

An appendage 140 of this pair of appendages comprises three panels 140a, 140 b, 140 c which define the first flap 41 of the shutter. Thisappendage 140 is laterally connected to the first panel 109.

The other appendage 141 of said pair of appendices comprises threepanels 141 a, 141 b, 141 c which define the second flap 41 of theshutter 40. This appendage 141 is laterally connected to the secondpanel 108 and faces the other appendage 140.

A fourth appendage 150 is defined on the third panel 107 which definesthe dosing device 50. The fourth appendage comprises three panels 150 a,150 b, 150 c which form the flap 51 of the dosing device 50.

The auxiliary portion 102 of the first blank 101 is connected to thefifth panel 106 b of the main portion 101 and is one piece with the mainportion 101.

The auxiliary portion 102 comprises a first panel 113, a second panel111, and a third panel 112 which respectively define the third wall 13,the first wall 11, and the second wall 12 of the prismatic body 10.

A fourth panel 114 is arranged on the side of the third panel 112 and isintended to be superimposed on the fifth panel 106 a of the main portion101.

Above the first panel 113, the second panel 111 and the fourth panel 114there are arranged respective appendages 115 a, 115 b, 115 c whichdefine the fourth wall 15 of the prismatic body 10.

The second blank 200 (FIG. 6 ) comprises a main portion 201 and anauxiliary portion 202 that is connected to the main portion 201 and isintegral with the main portion 201.

The second blank 200 is configured to make the outer casing 20.

The main portion 201 of the second blank 200 defines the main portion 21of the outer casing 20, and the auxiliary portion 202 of the secondblank 200 defines the auxiliary portion 22 of the outer casing 20.

As shown in FIG. 6 , the main portion 201 is distinguishable from theauxiliary portion 202 by a separation line 210.

Said separation line 210 is parallel to a longitudinal end 201 a of themain portion 201 which defines the upper edge 27 a of the outer casing.

The separation line 210 is also parallel to a free end 202 a of theauxiliary portion 202 which defines the lower edge 33 a of the outercasing 20.

The distance separating the longitudinal end 201 a of the main portion201 from the free end 202 a of the auxiliary portion 202 in thelongitudinal direction is equal to the height, measured in thelongitudinal direction, of the outer casing 20.

The main portion 201 comprises a first panel 205 which defines the frontwall 25 of the main portion 21 of the outer casing 20.

The main portion 201 comprises a second panel 204 which defines thesecond side wall 23 of the main portion 21 of the outer casing 20.

The main portion 201 comprises a third panel 206 which defines the rearwall 26 of the main portion 21 of the outer casing 20.

The second panel 204 is interposed between the first panel 205 and thethird panel 206. A fourth panel 203 a is arranged on the side of thethird panel 206 on the opposite side to the second panel 204. A fifthpanel 203 b is arranged on the side of the first panel 205 on theopposite side to the second panel 204. The fourth panel 203 a and thefifth panel 203 b cooperate to define the first side wall 23 of the mainportion 21 of the outer casing 20.

The auxiliary portion 202 comprises a first panel 230 which defines thefront wall 30 of the auxiliary portion 22 of the outer casing 20.

The auxiliary portion 202 comprises a second panel 229 which defines thesecond side wall 29 of the auxiliary portion 22 of the outer casing 20.

The auxiliary portion 202 comprises a third panel 231 which defines therear wall 31 of the auxiliary portion 22 of the outer casing 20.

The second panel 229 is interposed between the first panel 230 and thethird panel 231.

A fourth panel 228 is arranged on the side of the first panel 230 on theopposite side to the second panel 229. The fourth panel 228 defines thefirst side wall 28 of the auxiliary portion 22 of the outer casing 20.

On the side of the third panel 231 on the opposite side to the secondpanel 229 there is arranged an appendage 234 which defines the tear-offappendage 34.

The first panel 205 of the main portion 201 is arranged above the firstpanel 230 of the auxiliary portion 202.

The second panel 204 of the main portion 201 is arranged above thesecond panel 229 of the auxiliary portion 202.

The third panel 206 of the main portion 201 is arranged above the thirdpanel 231 of the auxiliary portion 202.

The fifth panel 203 b of the main portion 201 is arranged above thefourth panel 228 of the auxiliary portion 202.

The fourth panel 203 a of the main portion 201 is arranged above theappendage 234 of the auxiliary portion 202.

The separation line 210 is made by a sequence of weakening incisions.

The separation line makes the panels of the main portion 201 visually,and not physically, distinct from one another from the panels of theauxiliary portion 202.

Obviously, a person skilled in the art, in order to satisfy specific andcontingent needs, can make numerous modifications and variations to theinvention described above while remaining within the scope of protectiondefined by the following claims.

1. A loose article dispensing package, comprising: a container for containing a plurality of loose articles (A), comprising a bottom wall and a top wall; an outer casing arranged outside the container and slidingly coupled to the container along a sliding direction between a raised position and a lowered position, a dispensing opening of the container adjacent to the bottom wall in a direction transverse to the sliding direction and spaced from the bottom wall of the container along the sliding direction when the outer casing is in the raised position; a shutter that is active on the dispensing opening and movable between a closing configuration, in which the shutter closes the dispensing opening, and an opening configuration, in which the shutter opens the dispensing opening; wherein the shutter is connected to the container and to the outer casing so that in the raised position of the outer casing the shutter is in the closing configuration; wherein: the outer casing comprises a main portion and an auxiliary portion, wherein, in the raised position of the outer casing, the bottom wall of the container is substantially aligned with a free end of the auxiliary portion; the outer casing comprises a predetermined separation line arranged between the auxiliary portion and the main portion, wherein the auxiliary portion of the outer casing is configured to be separated from the main portion of the outer casing along said predetermined separation line.
 2. The dispensing package according to claim 1, wherein, when said outer casing is in the raised position, said dispensing opening is arranged at a first distance from the bottom wall along the sliding direction and wherein said auxiliary portion has an extension in the sliding direction equal to or less than said first distance.
 3. The dispensing package according to claim 1, wherein said outer casing comprises a cutting or weakening line at said predetermined separation line.
 4. The dispensing package according to claim 1, wherein the main portion of the outer casing comprises four walls and wherein the auxiliary portion comprises at least three walls that are coplanar to respective three walls of the main portion.
 5. The dispensing package according to claim 1, wherein said auxiliary portion comprises a tear-off appendage not connected to the main portion and configured to be grasped by a user.
 6. The dispensing package according to claim 5, wherein said tear-off appendage develops along the sliding direction between the predetermined separation line and said free end of the auxiliary portion.
 7. The dispensing package according to claim 1, wherein the main portion comprises a longitudinal end on an opposite side with respect to the auxiliary portion; said longitudinal end of the main portion being substantially aligned with the top wall of the container when the outer casing is in the raised position.
 8. An assembly of blanks for making a dispensing package comprising: a first flat blank comprising: a main portion configured to define a container; first appendages arranged at a first longitudinal end of the main portion and configured to define a top wall of the container; second appendages arranged at a second longitudinal end of the main portion configured to define a bottom wall of the container; a pair of third appendages arranged in a recess of the main portion, facing each other and longitudinally interposed between the first appendages and the second appendages; said pair of third appendages being configured to define a shutter for a dispensing opening of the container; wherein the assembly of blanks comprises a second flat blank configured to define an outer casing which can be slidingly inserted onto said container, comprising a main portion and an auxiliary portion distinguishable from one another by a separation line.
 9. The assembly of blanks according to claim 8, wherein said separation line is parallel to a first longitudinal end of the main portion of the second flat blank.
 10. The assembly of blanks according to claim 8, wherein said auxiliary portion of said second flat blank comprises an appendage configured to define a tear-off appendage.
 11. The assembly of blanks according to claim 8, wherein said separation line is defined by a sequence of incisions in said second flat blank.
 12. The assembly of blanks according to claim 11, wherein said sequence of incisions distinguishes the main portion from the auxiliary portion of the second flat blank. 